Intervention with games, child development and quality of life

• Grant number: 18/21367-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Thereza Costa Coelho de Souza
• Grantee: Maria Thereza Costa Coelho de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Lucia Sicoli Petty ; Antonio de Pádua Serafim ; Camila Tarif Ferreira Folquitto ; Mariana Inés Garbarino ; Sara Del Prete Panciera
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/03574-1 - Intervention with games, child development and quality of life, BP.TT

Abstract

This research investigates the possible effects of an intervention program with game workshops carried out for groups of children from the elementary school, during the period of one year. Evidences from the literature indicate that children with school difficulties and executive dysfunction may also have negative indicators in psychological development, such as high levels of stress, difficulties in social skills and impairment in quality of life indexes. The learning process benefits itself and also contributes to the development of cognitive and socio-affective structures and coordination, such as the self-regulation processes and the grasp of consciousness. The intervention program provides experiences for the participants in favor of these processes, for instance dealing with problem solving situations as well as solving logical and communication challenges. The possible effects of this intervention will be examined (before and after the program) through standardized evaluation tools to assess executive functions, stress levels, social skills, quality of life, language and reasoning. In addition, children procedures and attitudes in the game context will be analyzed through observation protocols created for this purpose. Forty children with school difficulties, subdivided into four groups of ten, will take place in this research. This study may point out the contribution of intervention with games for the development and quality of life in childhood, generating multiple effects to other contexts. (AU)